Community Colleges across the nation respond to increased enrollments and limited budgets through innovative use of technology, according to the Digital Community Colleges Survey results released today.

92 percent have expanded distance learning offerings online and 77 percent have increased online student services. Survey results also show that 95 percent are now using social networking to reach out to students and 79 percent use YouTube, up by 14 percent from 2011.

See below for more survey findings.

“This survey gives great insight into the nation’s Community Colleges’ efforts to advance services to students through new technologies,” says Cathilea Robinett, executive vice president of e.Republic. “The winners in these categories have increased the number of computers and kiosks, automated labor-intensive processes, improved student portals and increased student online services and more. Congratulations!”

Colleges from 26 states across the U.S. participated in the 2012 Digital Community Colleges Survey. Following are the top-10 ranked colleges in each of three categories.

2012 Digital Community Colleges Survey Winners

Large Colleges Category - 10,000 Students or More

1st Lone Star College
2nd Northwest Arkansas Community College
3rd Howard Community College
3rd Kingsborough Community College
4th Johnson County Community College
4th Northern Virginia Community College
5th Houston Community College
6th Delaware Technical and Community College
7th Delta College
7th Tidewater Community College
8th Montgomery County Community College
8th Salt Lake Community College
9th Moraine Valley Community College
10th Fayetteville Technical Community College

Mid-Sized Colleges Category - Between 5,000 and 10,000 Students

1st Lord Fairfax Community College
2nd Virginia Western Community College
3rd Laramie County Community College
4th Hostos Community College
5th Darton State College
6th Walters State Community College
7th Germanna Community College
7th Piedmont Virginia Community College
8th Southside Virginia Community College
9th Lake Land College
10th Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Small Colleges Category – Less Than 5,000 Students

1st Carl Sandburg College
2nd Tompkins Cortland Community College
3rd Kirtland Community College
4th Atlanta Technical College
5th Lake-Sumter Community College
6th Halifax Community College
6th Rappahannock Community College
7th Patrick Henry Community College
8th Spoon River College
9th Southwest Virginia Community College
10th Panola College

Survey questions and criteria examined and scored areas of digital and emerging technologies, such as use of mobile devices and technology integration into curriculum; strategic planning and data management; and delivery models and professional development, including availability of technology tools and training for faculty and students.

In addition, colleges were surveyed on their technology priorities, shared services and cloud computing; infrastructure and networks; and outreach and workforce development.

Selected Survey Findings:

Top 10 IT Priorities for the 2012 Digital Community Colleges Survey respondents:

Surveyed colleges are reaching out to the student population, businesses and the community in the following ways (all increases over 2011 were slight (2-4%) with the exception of You Tube/Flickr which increased 14 percent):

95 percent using social networking/Web 2.0 such as Facebook, Twitter, My Space;

93 percent using emails/newsletters/text messaging;

91 percent using distance learning;

86 percent using hazard/warning/mass alert system;

79 percent using You Tube, Flickr (a 14 percent increase over 2011);

Forty-six percent have developed and published social networking policies – a 16 percent increase since last year.

Responding colleges have used IT to cope with increased enrollments and limited budgets in the following ways:

Eighty-four percent of adjunct faculty receive support for faculty research for course content and delivery methods

Fifty-six percent of colleges report they have fully implemented mobile computing while 19 percent are learning more about it and/or preparing a business case for implementation.

The Center for Digital Education thanks survey underwriters Insight Public Sector and Cisco for their support of community colleges across the nation.

Educators and education IT leaders need an IT solutions partner who can help and support student achievement and professional development goals. Insight and Cisco are committed to being our clients trusted advisor by improving their performance through innovative technologies.

About the Center for Digital Education
The Center for Digital Education (CDE) is a national research and advisory institute specializing in K-12 and higher education technology trends, policy, and funding. CDE’s media platform includes the Center for Digital Education's Converge Special Reports, centerdigitaled.com, email newsletters, and custom publications.

The Center is a division of e.Republic, a national publishing, event and research company focused on smart media for public sector innovation.